How do you spend your "smoke breaks"?

[piaconis]

Here's one I'm throwing out there as a fun general discussion:

We all know the time and patience invested in our culinary art.  What I'm curious to know is what everyone does while the meat is on the smoker.  The electric folks tend to be a little more "set it and forget it", but some of us stick burners need to hang around pretty close to home.  What do you do to pass the time during your "smoke break"?

Personally, I do a lot of mine on days I am working from my home office.  I combine a little work time with my down time.  I've also played more than a few video games while the smoker runs.  However, some of the best times have been when my wife or kids check things out, and I get to teach them a little about the art of smoking, or just shoot the breeze.  Other times, it's early morning, and my only quiet time of the day.  I enjoy the beauty of the sunrise over my morning coffee (and an occasional donut, if I'm feeling like making the trip).

How about others?  Party by the smoker?  Quiet and solitude?  Camping chair and an ice cold beer?

 

[thsmormonsmokes]

So far, all of my smokes have been through the night.  I burn charcoal, but I still haven't mastered the minion method to my complete satisfaction.  So I sleep on the couch and set my phone to wake me up every 1.5 hours through the night.  I also do this on Saturday nights, continuing into Sunday.  So on days when I get a little bored at church I have a good reason to duck out real quick to run home to check on my temps and fuel levels.

I'll usually take a really good nap Sunday afternoon to make up for the sleepless night, eat an awesome Q dinner, then crash for the night.  So far that pattern has worked out pretty well for me.

As soon as I can source a food safe drum for a UDS, I'll use that for my overnight endeavors.  But until then, it's a rock star's life for me when I'm working the Q.

 

[nivekd]

As soon as I can source a food safe drum for a UDS, I'll use that for my overnight endeavors.  But until then, it's a rock star's life for me when I'm working the Q.

Check these out...

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=21512038

 

[thsmormonsmokes]

Check these out...

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=21512038

AWESOME!!

Thanks man.  What part of Utah are you in?  I've been trying to source a food safe barrel for a long time now.  The best I've been able to do was through Christensen Oil in Provo, and those have held oil, hydro fluid or some other petroleum based product.  And this is about $10 cheaper.

 

[bstrong27]

Smoking is not only great fun, but also gets me out of a lot of errands..."Honey can you go to the store?"..."Sorry smoking a pork shoulder."  Usually, i get the yard work done, drink some beer, and hang out on the deck.  As soon as I light a fire and the smell of peach wood goes lofting throught the neighborhood, I am never short of visitors...

 

[onebadmofo]

Well I drink beer.  And usually about a 12 pack.  I've just started smoking but have attended plenty of "smoke outs" and beer is like water at these events.

And I usually fire a cigar as well.  Depending on the mood and what cocktail I'm drinking....

Finally, I really enjoyed swimming in the pool with my 7 year old daughter and watching that WSM spew smoke.

It was a thing of beauty! ;)

 

[chef jimmyj]

Beer Drinking and Relaxing by myself...However I never pass on the opportunity to talk Q to anyone willing to listen. Usually some music playings. Used to Smoke like a Train myself too, but wife made me quit, $10-12 for 2 packs a day is bad for the Health and the Wallet!...JJ

 

[davidhef88]

Lately I have been getting some stuff done around the yard. It's nice to cut the grass, tend to the garden, trim some trees while smelling the TBS. I usually have a couple of my usual ice cold beers fresh from Canada. My neighbors always seem to stop over with a couple more of my favorites for me to see what's cooking. I think they do this in an attempt to get some food when it's done ( which by the way usually works ). In the winter it's a little different story I'm usually hiding inside from the cold and making as few trips out as I have to. That will be much easier this winter now that I'm a proud owner of a maverick 732 et.

 

[jarjarchef]

For me I am usually trying to chill as much as I can. However we live on my father in laws 20 acres and there is always something to do. My wife has decided she wants a mini animal petting zoo. So She is always needing something built. As for neighbors coming over, we only have a few and most are annoying and I try to hide from them.

But on the perfect smokes I get to spend time with the family enjoying the appropriate beverage for the member that is there, kids = Mt.Dew or sweet tea or father in law = tequila shot and water chaser. If I am alone i try work on my stellar napping techniques. I am usually working on the side for that evenings dinner for the family that live on the property. I enjoy cooking for family and friends.

 

[ksmoker]

I like to drink a few beers and throw the ball with the kids, after they get tired I'm out in the garage planning a new project. I love those time's in between watching smoke flow

 

[piaconis]

Good stuff.  I'm considering building an ourdoor patio/kitchen, so I think I will be including some lounging and entertainment options into it for those long smoke days.  I'm thinking parts of that project with be completed while smoking tasty meat.

Thanks to everyone for sharing!

 

[kathrynn]

I have been using our smoker in the garage....(just out of the garage)...and we all hang out...yap and cut up.  There is always Adult Bevs to share and age appropriate drinks and colas to spread around.  The neighbors come around and we add to the fun.  A nice out door area would be wonderful.

 

[thomas phillips]

I usually spend my Smoking time drinking a few brews while preparing the rest of the dishes to go along with my meat. If I'm really lucky I get to doze off on the couch in between checking temps while watching cartoons with my kids.
 

 

[smoke-n-fire]

usually drink some beer and tend the fire when at home, i also take a lot of notes/logs when practicing for a comp. I also do a lot of smoking at work, we have a pretty decent rig at the fire station....getting paid to smoke

 

[chef jimmyj]

usually drink some beer and tend the fire when at home, i also take a lot of notes/logs when practicing for a comp. I also do a lot of smoking at work, we have a pretty decent rig at the fire station....getting paid to smoke

 Your Brother Firefighters must love when you are on...Apple or Hickory is the Only Smoke they don't mind smelling!...JJ

 

[scarbelly]

Beer Drinking and Relaxing by myself...However I never pass on the opportunity to talk Q to anyone willing to listen. Usually some music playings. Used to Smoke like a Train myself too, but wife made me quit, $10-12 for 2 packs a day is bad for the Health and the Wallet!...JJ

Don't let him fool ya - he is sleeping now that he has the MES - auto dial set and forget 

I am usually on here answering posts or getting a toddy 

 

[rabbithutch]

I usually surf the 'Net and check on things here at SMF. BUT . . . I use a couple of Maverick thermo's that tell me what temp my meat is at and what temp the smoker is at and it doesn't matter whether I'm using the MES or the mini-WSM.

If I'm not online I'm probably reading or writing or doing research for writing.

I also make trips to the supermarket and to Sam's Club. My travel time to either is under 10 minutes and I never go to shop. Women shop - men buy. I'm delayed only by an insufficient number of checkers to get me out.

As for those long, long smokes, I usually just put the receivers with their alarms set right by my bed and snooze out. If anything drops out of line, the beeps will wake me up and I tend to whatever caused it.

Great question!

 

[boykjo]

 I drink beer, keep a close eye on the beer ..... I,  mean smoker...... and plan on how to take over the world.........

 

[dls1]

I do the big meats (briskets, butts,etc.) overnight in a Cookshack electric, so I sleep. Put the meat in around 11:00 PM, insert the remote probe, add 3-4 oz. wood chunks, set the smoker temp for 185-200, then close the door, and turn the smoker on. I'll make a cocktail and sit out on the deck and wait to see smoke coming out of the vent to confirm everything's going OK. Then it's bedtime.

Around 7:00 AM the next morning I check the IT and adjust the smoker temp upward to a temp that coincides with the time I want to eat. When doing this I factor in a 2-3 hour period for the meat to be foiled, toweled, and in the cooler after hitting the target IT.

For smaller day cooks like ribs, chicken, etc. I pretty much follow a similar procedure and run errands, do yard work, prepare side dishes, or whatever else I'm doing at the time.

 

[wjordan52]

If the weather's good I sit on the deck w/ my wife and we both enjoy the chance to relax. For all nighters I try to nap with checks when necessary. My smoker is a modified 'SFB turned electric', and I'm working on automating as much as I can so I can smoke during the week when I'm on call and subject to being called away. I am finding though that when home I still tend to keep an eye on the smoker even when unnecessary. It's also one of my favorite times to check SMF. Oh yeah... a touch of adult beverage is usually fairly close.